Common Name: SELENIOUS ACID HAZARD SUMMARY

Common Name: SELENIOUS ACID

CAS Number: 7783-00-8 RTK Substance number: 2762 DOT Number: UN 3283 Date: September 1999 ------

HAZARD SUMMARY * Selenious Acid can affect you when breathed in and by * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely passing through your skin. evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area * Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes. air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results * Breathing Selenious Acid can irritate the nose and throat. from your employer. You have a legal right to this * Breathing Selenious Acid can irritate the lungs causing information under OSHA 1910.1020. coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. breath. * Exposure can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS abdominal pain, pallor and fatigue. The following exposure limits are for Selenious Acid * Repeated exposure can cause garlic odor of the breath, (measured as Selenium): metallic taste, increased dental cavities, and loss of hair and nails. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit * Repeated exposure may cause personality changes of (PEL) is 0.2 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour depression, anxiety or irritability. workshift. * Selenious Acid can damage the nervous system. * Selenious Acid may damage the liver and kidneys. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.2 mg/m3 averaged over a 10-hour workshift. IDENTIFICATION Selenious Acid is a white, crystalline (sand-like) solid. It is ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is used as a component for gun blueing, a reagent, an oxidizing 0.2 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift. agent, and an isotope for labeling radiopharmaceutical compounds. * The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even REASON FOR CITATION though air levels are less than the limits listed above. * Selenious Acid is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE DOT, NIOSH, DEP, HHAG and EPA. * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust * Definitions are provided on page 5. ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING worn. EXPOSED * Wear protective work clothing. The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Selenious to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public Acid and at the end of the workshift. employers to provide their employees with information and * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The addition, as part of an ongoing education and training federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, effort, communicate all information on the health and requires private employers to provide similar training and safety hazards of Selenious Acid to potentially exposed information to their employees. workers.

SELENIOUS ACID page 2 of 6

This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the potential and most severe health hazards that may result from following are recommended: exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to * Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. any of the potential effects described below. * Exam of the nervous system. ------Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling Acute Health Effects exposure. The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Selenious Acid: Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. * Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes. * Breathing Selenious Acid can irritate the nose and throat. Mixed Exposures * Breathing Selenious Acid can irritate the lungs causing * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, breath. stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health * Exposure can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, problems. abdominal pain, pallor and fatigue. WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous some time after exposure to Selenious Acid and can last for substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most months or years: effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at Cancer Hazard the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also * There is no evidence that Selenious Acid causes cancer in reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is animals. This is based on test results presently available to less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services sometimes necessary. from published studies. In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Reproductive Hazard (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the * Selenious Acid may damage the developing fetus at doses substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether that are toxic to the mother. harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when Other Long-Term Effects significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. * Repeated exposure can cause garlic odor of the breath, metallic taste, increased dental cavities, and loss of hair In addition, the following control is recommended: and nails. * Repeated exposure may cause personality changes of * Where possible, automatically transfer Selenious Acid depression, anxiety or irritability. from drums or other storage containers to process * Selenious Acid can damage the nervous system. containers. * Selenious Acid may damage the liver and kidneys. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous MEDICAL exposures. The following work practices are recommended:

* Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Medical Testing Selenious Acid should change into clean clothing For those with frequent or potentially high exposure (half the promptly. TLV or greater), the following are recommended before * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family beginning work and at regular times after that: members could be exposed. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by * Urine test for Selenium (should be less than 100 individuals who have been informed of the hazards of micrograms per liter of urine). exposure to Selenious Acid. * Liver and kidney function tests.

SELENIOUS ACID page 3 of 6

* Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate * NIOSH has established new testing and certification work area for emergency use. requirements for negative pressure, air purifying, * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency particulate filter and filtering facepiece respirators. The shower facilities should be provided. filter classifications of dust/mist/fume, paint spray or * On skin contact with Selenious Acid, immediately wash or pesticide prefilters, and filters for radon daughters, have shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the been replaced with the N, R, and P series. Each series has workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have three levels of filtering efficiency: 95%, 99%, and 99.9%. contacted Selenious Acid, whether or not known skin Check with your safety equipment supplier or your contact has occurred. respirator manufacturer to determine which respirator is * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Selenious Acid is appropriate for your facility. handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be * If while wearing a filter or cartridge respirator you can swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, smell, taste, or otherwise detect Selenious Acid, or if smoking, or using the toilet. while wearing particulate filters abnormal resistance to * Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during breathing is experienced, or eye irritation occurs while clean-up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. wearing a full facepiece respirator, leave the area immediately. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT seal is still good. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator. WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for workplace. You may need a combination of filters, some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace a chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of controls are being installed), personal protective equipment chemicals. may be appropriate. * Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and pressure mode. For increased protection use in to train employees on how and when to use protective combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing equipment. apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- pressure mode. The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply to every situation. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Clothing Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic * Avoid skin contact with Selenious Acid. Wear acid- health effects? resistant gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/ A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most from repeated exposures to a chemical. protective glove/clothing material for your operation. * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- should be clean, available each day, and put on before term effects? work. A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to Eye Protection make you immediately sick. * Wear impact resistant eye protection with side shields or goggles. Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with exposed to chemicals? corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is Respiratory Protection determined by the length of time and the amount of material to which someone is exposed. IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS.

Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a Q: When are higher exposures more likely? written program that takes into account workplace conditions, A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include dust requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and releasing operations (grinding, mixing, blasting, medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. dumping, etc.), other physical and mechanical processes

(heating, pouring, spraying, spills and evaporation from large surface areas such as open containers), and "confined space" exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, small rooms, etc.). SELENIOUS ACID page 4 of 6

Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for ------community residents? The following information is available from: A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services found in the workplace. However, people in the Occupational Health Service community may be exposed to contaminated water as PO Box 360 well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 may be a problem for children or people who are already (609) 984-1863 ill. (609) 292-5677 (fax)

Q: Can men as well as women be affected by chemicals that Web address: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/odisweb/ cause reproductive system damage? A: Yes. Some chemicals reduce potency or fertility in both Industrial Hygiene Information men and women. Some damage sperm and eggs, Industrial hygienists are available to answer your questions possibly leading to birth defects. regarding the control of chemical exposures using exhaust ventilation, special work practices, good housekeeping, good Q: Who is at the greatest risk from reproductive hazards? hygiene practices, and personal protective equipment A: Pregnant women are at greatest risk from chemicals that including respirators. In addition, they can help to interpret harm the developing fetus. However, chemicals may the results of industrial hygiene survey data. affect the ability to have children, so both men and women of childbearing age are at high risk. Medical Evaluation If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to chemicals at your workplace, you may call personnel at the Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational Health Service, who can help you find the information you need.

Public Presentations Presentations and educational programs on occupational health or the Right to Know Act can be organized for labor unions, trade associations and other groups.

Right to Know Information Resources The Right to Know Infoline (609) 984-2202 can answer questions about the identity and potential health effects of chemicals, list of educational materials in occupational health, references used to prepare the Fact Sheets, preparation of the Right to Know survey, education and training programs, labeling requirements, and general information regarding the Right to Know Act. Violations of the law should be reported to (609) 984-2202. ------SELENIOUS ACID page 5 of 6

DEFINITIONS

ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation Industrial Hygienists. It recommends upper limits (called is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer.

A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. NAERG is the North American Emergency Response Guidebook. It was jointly developed by Transport Canada, The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts the United States Department of Transportation and the Service to identify a specific chemical. Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. It is a guide for first responders to quickly identify the specific A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will or generic hazards of material involved in a transportation burn. incident, and to protect themselves and the general public during the initial response phase of the incident. A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that determines the cancer-causing potential of chemicals. DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies substances according to their fire and explosion DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency hazard. that regulates the transportation of chemicals. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes standards to OSHA. A fetus is an unborn human or animal. NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer. will ignite easily and burn rapidly. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid which adopts and enforces health and safety standards. gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. PEOSHA is the Public Employees Occupational Safety and HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal Health Act, a state law which sets PELs for New Jersey public EPA. employees.

IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their measure of concentration by volume in air. cancer-causing potential. A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly energy under certain conditions. dissolve in another. A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of damaging the fetus. air. It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure MSHA is the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the limit recommended by ACGIH. federal agency that regulates mining. It also evaluates and approves respirators. The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in.

page 6 of 6 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> E M E R G E N C Y I N F O R M A T I O N <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Common Name: SELENIOUS ACID HANDLING AND STORAGE DOT Number: UN 3283 NAERG Code: 151 * Prior to working with Selenious Acid you should be trained CAS Number: 7783-00-8 on its proper handling and storage. * Selenious Acid is not compatible with REDUCING AGENTS (such as SODIUM HYPOSULFITE, Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA SULFUROUS ACID, PHOSPHOROUS ACID and FLAMMABILITY Not Found Not Rated HYDRAZINE SALTS); COMBUSTIBLES (such as OIL and WOOD); and STRONG ACIDS (such as REACTIVITY Not Found Not Rated HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC). POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE area away from METALS.

Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; FIRST AID 3=serious; 4=severe In NJ, POISON INFORMATION 1-800-764-7661 FIRE HAZARDS Eye Contact * Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type of * Immediately flush with large amounts of water. Continue surrounding fire. Selenious Acid itself does not burn. without stopping for at least 30 minutes, occasionally lifting * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. including Selenium and Selenium Oxide fumes. * CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. Skin Contact * Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained area with large amounts of soap and water. Seek medical and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. attention immediately.

SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES Breathing * Remove the person from exposure. If Selenious Acid is spilled, take the following steps: * Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. * Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from * Transfer promptly to a medical facility. area of spill until clean-up is complete. * Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours * Cover with dry lime, sand or soda ash, and place in covered after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be containers for disposal. delayed. * Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete. * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Selenious PHYSICAL DATA Acid as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your o o regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Vapor Pressure: 2 mm Hg at 59 F (15 C) Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. Water Solubility: Soluble * If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES applicable. Chemical Name: ======Selenious Acid FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire Other Names: department. You can request emergency information from the Hydrogen Selenite; Selenium Dioxide; Selenous Acid following: ------Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300 NJDEP HOTLINE: (609) 292-7172 purposes. ======------NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES Right to Know Program PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 (609) 984-2202 ------